Horowhenua College in Levin has terminated the employment of language teacher and Pacific dean Asaria Saili following an investigation into an allegation concerning his behaviour towards a student. The college confirmed in a letter to parents on Tuesday that Saili was no longer employed at the school.

The issue came to light late last year, leading to Saili being placed on paid leave while an employment inquiry was conducted. Principal Grant Congdon indicated that the investigation was completed recently with oversight from GovHub, the advisory service of the New Zealand School Boards Association. An independent expert was appointed to examine the allegation, and the school stated that the concerns about Saili’s conduct were upheld, resulting in his dismissal.

Further investigations by the police and the Teaching Council remain ongoing, and the school declined to comment further in order to avoid prejudicing those processes. The Teaching Council’s interim chief executive, Tom Gott, noted the council typically does not comment on matters involving individuals under statutory investigation but acknowledged the significant public interest due to child safety concerns. He confirmed that serious concerns had been referred to the appropriate authorities and that the council was cooperating closely with the school and other agencies.

Saili, also known as Matua Ria, was not a registered teacher at the time of his dismissal. He had previously held a Limited Authority to Teach (LAT), a temporary teaching permit granted in cases where a teacher possesses specialist skills or where there is a shortage of registered teachers. This LAT expired on March 7, and Saili currently holds no authority to teach in New Zealand.

Both the principal and the Teaching Council emphasized their commitment to safeguarding children and young people while underscoring the need to maintain privacy and fairness throughout ongoing statutory processes. Congdon specifically cited privacy considerations as the reason for not disclosing further information about the nature of the allegation during the employment investigation.

The situation remains under statutory review, with no additional details released at this time.